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BY DR. GLENN MOLLETTE

The average house payment in America today is $2,883 on a 30-year mortgage. The average payment on a fixed year rate mortgage is about $3,759. (January stats from businessfinder.com).

The average car payment in America is $732 a month for new cars and $532 a month for used cars (Nerdwallet.com).

The average American household spends over $1,000 a month on groceries according to a report on gitnux.org. A family of four may spend over $1300 per month. 

Nationwide, Americans spend an average of $429.33 per month on utilities. Hawaii has the highest monthly energy bill at $177.78 and Utah has the lowest at $80.87. California has the highest average monthly water bill at $77. Wisconsin and Vermont are tied for the lowest monthly water bills at $18 (Forbes.com).

A January 2023 statistic estimated Americans spend $150 to $200 a month on gasoline. (JDPower.Com). This is hard to know because prices are always changing. Regions of the country have to drive more than others, but we all know we spend a lot to fuel our automobiles. 

Electric car costs are adding $100 to $200 a month to the average electric bill according to information found on Quora.com.

The average national monthly health insurance cost for one person on an Affordable Care Act plan without premium tax credits in 2024 is $477 (Healthmarkets.com).

Of course, to obtain an average some Americans are paying more, and some are paying less. 

The bottom line is regardless of who you are you have financial stress in your life to some degree. According to Lendingtree.com, the average American credit card debt in the last quarter of 2023 was $6,864. Therefore, if you are also carrying a big credit card debt then financial pressure is weighing more heavily on you.

It’s difficult to dodge all the above except for creating credit card debit. Typically, we only use a credit card when we don’t have the money. Most Americans today are using debit cards to some degree. It’s not a bad thing to have a credit card. There are some upsides to this, but the downside is when you put more on the card than what you can pay for within the due date cycle. 

The cost of life’s basics such as housing, food, utilities, and a car are making life for most Americans stressful to say the least. The answers may lie in downsizing. Living in cheaper housing, driving a cheaper car and freezing more in the winter and being warm in the summer to save a few dollars. Many Americans are trying to stay above water by working more or depending on two incomes. More than half of America’s households are dual income according to magnifymoney.com. 

The point is, be aware that you are not alone in the pressure you are feeling. Be aware that your neighbor next door, the other drivers on the highway and your fellow workers at the job are all experiencing some of what you are feeling. We should all be aware and try to respect and understand each other a little more. 

There’s an election coming in November. Consider a new president to lower your costs of living.

(Dr. Glenn Mollette’s column is published in over 600 publications in all 50 states.)